“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Humility is a lesson that we must learn from Matthew, Chapter 5

The Community of Matthew, Lessons from this beatitude

The word “meek” is not one that is used a great deal in contemporary society, yet it was very important to Jesus during his years of ministry approximately two millenniums ago. 

He pointed out that being meek is essential for those who want to spend an eternity with him and his father. Yet today, bluster and bravado are regarded as better attributes than being humble, which can be confusing for those who try to follow the words of Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew. 

To understand how the meek can inherit the earth, we should first take a look at the word itself. To do that, I always refer to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a repository of wisdom. 

The word “meek”

Here is what Merriam-Webster says about "meek,"

meek 

adjective

\ ˈmēk

Definition of meek

1: enduring injury with patience and without resentment : MILD

[Sentence]: a meek child dominated by his brothers

2 : deficient in spirit and courage : SUBMISSIVE

"I don't care," came the meek reply

— Annetta Miller

3 : not violent or strong : MODERATE

… his delivery varied from a meek, melodic patter to rapid-fire scriptural allusions

— Bob Trebilcock

Synonyms

… demure, down-to-earth, humble, lowly, modest, unassuming, unpretentious

Related words

… compliant, deferential, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive

Antonyms for meek

… Aggressive, assertive, bold, brash, impertinent, impudent, overconfident, cocksure

"Meek," Merriam-Webster online dictionary, current

After reading through these words, the question is this: Why would we want to be meek in a society that values self-confidence, assertiveness, strength, and aggressiveness?

Jesus tries to answer that question.

Analysis

One of the interesting analyses of this word from the beatitudes came from a man who engaged in some “Pencil Preaching” last month. Pat Marrin’s sketch is the one below entitled “I thank you father,”

To call someone “meek” might not be taken as a compliment by the American standard that prizes self-assurance, but Jesus uses the term to describe himself and  those who will inherit the earth. Humility relates etymologically to the earth and those who are down to earth. As a poignant observer of human society, Jesus saw that the last would be first and the first last in God’s Kingdom.  

He must have seen enough arrogance in high places and unpretentious innocence among peasants and the poor to arrive at this conclusion.

It was more than just a preference, because real humility actually works better in human relationships than pride. It follows the golden rule and the basic truth that we reap what we sow. 

Pat Marrin, “Blessed are the meek: Pencil Preaching for Friday, 

June 19, 2020,” National Catholic Reporter, June 18, 2020

As I mentioned earlier, the word “humility” that is synonymous with meek does not mean we must accept humiliation or defeat in life. Quite the contrary. 

However, the humble can also be successful, as Pope Francis has illustrated. 

Pope washes the feet of prisoners — and women

One of the traditions of Holy Thursday for Catholics is the washing of the feet of sinners. Why did Jesus wash the hands of sinners when he was superior to them as the son of God? It is the lesson of humility,

In the washing of the feet, we see Jesus entering into a parable, teaching his disciples by example what it means to be the greatest by becoming the least, inverting the normal understandings of power and deference, making service the measure of greatness and linking the acceptance of grace to the purification of one’s life. All this could be written about or spoken of, but Jesus simply did it.

Michael Sean Winters, “Pope Francis & the washing of feet,” National 

Catholic Reporter Blog, Distinctly Catholic, April 1, 2013

Francis washing the feet of prisoners

Photo: AP from Vatican Media

Not everyone was happy that Pope Francis washing the feet of 12 prisoners, including two women and two of the Muslim faith. However, what better example of humility of a faith that attempts to attract people to it by its practices of what Jesus preached. 

Pope Francis preaches of humility

The pope has preached that we should not aspire to be “superstars” because that is not what Jesus taught us,

Catholics must preserve "in our hearts a peace that is neither detachment nor superhuman impassivity, but confident abandonment to the Father and to his saving will, which bestows life and mercy," he said.

"Triumphalism tries to make it to the goal by shortcuts and false compromises," he said.

"It lives off gestures and words that are not forged in the crucible of the cross; it grows by looking askance at others and constantly judging them inferior, wanting, failures."

Jesus' life remains a source of inspiration, said Pope Francis, who made headlines this month by kissing the feet of South Sudan's warring rival leaders during a meeting at the Vatican to foster peace.

Jesus' teachings remind us not to "act like a 'superstar'," and to know when to hold our tongue in "in moments of darkness," Pope Francis said.

“Pope reminds youth of Jesus’ humility on Palm Sunday,” 

LaCroix International, April 15, 2019

The pope reminds us that this is challenging. 

“Going against the flow”

All of the beatitudes require us to be different from most of the people in this world, even those who believe that they are Christians but do not follow his teachings,

The pope acknowledges that living the Beatitudes means “going against the flow" of the world. Francis urges us to let the Lord's words “unsettle us, to challenge us and to demand a real change in the way we live.”

“In the Beatitudes," he says, "we find a portrait of the Master, which we are called to reflect in our daily lives.”

Thomas Reese, “Francis does not see holiness as a simple prospect,” Religion News Service, National Catholic Reporter, May 17, 2018

This means for all of us that it might tell us things that we have learned would not be important for us in our lives, and they could be detrimental to us in our education and careers and even in our interpersonal relationships.

Or does it mean that?

The pope says that being meek can actually help us in our relationships with other human beings, and will help us understand the limitations and difficulties of others, placing them in a different light, the Jesuit Father Reese says,

In a world of conflict, Jesus proposes the way of meekness. “Learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

“If we are constantly upset and impatient with others, we will end up drained and weary,” says Francis. “But if we regard the faults and limitations of others with tenderness and meekness, without an air of superiority, we can actually help them and stop wasting our energy on useless complaining.”

This meekness should be displayed “even when we defend our faith and convictions,” writes Francis. “In the Church we have often erred by not embracing this demand of God’s word.”

Thomas Reese, “Francis does not see holiness as a simple prospect,” Religion 

News Service, National Catholic Reporter, May 17, 2018

Conclusion

So, what does this discussion of meekness that Jesus said is essential for us actually mean?

First, it does not mean that we must be entirely passive in our lives, submissive to the ideas and will of others. It means that if we are willing to change and to follow the words of God, we will become meek and able to treat others kindly and with tenderness and respect. 

Second, Jesus says that we should follow him in word and deed, and when the demands of the word are too great, and we are torn between assertiveness and confidence and the virtue of humility, we can turn over those decisions to Jesus, and he will give them to God. This may not solve our problems, but will show that we have the willingness to be humble, which is a prerequisite for spending time in the afterlife. 

Finally, this means that we must learn from Jesus’ experience with the wealthy and learned, as Pat Marrin writes,

Even the wise and learned need to come down from their high stations when they pray. Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner used to sit behind the lectern saying the rosary while his translated talks were delivered in English to university faculties. Pope Francis writes his concerns on scraps of paper he places under a small statue of St. Joseph when he goes to bed. 

When day is done and shadows fall, we become as children again in our need for reassurance.  Jesus blesses us and invites us to lay our burdens down and join him in the rest reserved for the meek and humble of heart.

Pat Marrin, “Blessed are the meek: Pencil preaching for Friday, 

June 19, 2020,” National Catholic Reporter, June 18, 2020

Amen. 

Let us take these lessons with us in the upcoming week and work to become strong and meek, those seeming contradictions that in Jesus’ view, are not contradictions at all.